Villagers are demanding a clampdown on speeding saying that if action is not taken it will only a matter of time before someone dies.

Fed up residents in Four Lanes, Carnkie and Piece near Redruth have held a succession of public meetings to try to address the issue and now Councillor Robert Hendry has demanded Cornwall Council's highways department takes measures to bring the speeding epidemic under control.

For many years the roads connecting the three villages have acted as a racetrack for irresponsible drivers who regularly exceed the speed limit, resulting in a number of crashes. In one incident in recent days a driver crashed into a hedge.

In Four Lanes alone, where the speed limit is set at 30mph, traffic surveys have revealed an average speed of 35mph, locals said, with some motorists clocking speeds of above 70mph.

Mr Hendry said: “In Carnkie, highways have said they may put 30 limit repeater signs up but it won’t make any difference. The only measures that bring speeds down are average (speed) cameras or a chicane which forces cars to give way.

Cornwall councillor Robert Hendry is demanding action to tackle speeding in his ward

“At a public meeting in Carnkie the residents presented a petition with 74 signatures which shows the strength of public opinion.

“In Four Lanes, highways has told us that it has above average traffic for a B road with many buses and lorries travelling through the village from Helston, some of them driving way above the speed limit. People have had enough.”

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Mr Hendry said a number of meetings have also been held to address the issue in Four Lanes and he and several other residents joined Carn Brea Parish Council in a quest for action.

He added: “In an ideal world we’d have average speed cameras in Four Lanes (such as in Trewennack near Helston), and a 20 limit and chicane in the centre of Carnkie.

“People get used to the flashing signs and take no notice of them. It’s gone on long enough and it’s going to take a death for something to be done about it.

“In August we had a lorry hit BT cables causing lots of disruption and police to be called. The villages are frustrated and highways don’t appear to be taking any proper action. We’ve even been told that it’s a police matter.”

A Cornwall Council spokesman said: "Officers from the Highways Team have met with Carn Brea Parish Council to discuss the speed of traffic in the villages and the surrounding areas. Traffic control measures currently in place include a flashing 30mph sign and gateway features to the village and on street parking also limits widths and, consequently, speed in places. It was suggested that “Speed Watch” and police enforcement could be the next steps.

"As the accident history does not support assertions the road is inherently unsafe there are currently no plans for any further action by the Highways Team."